Re-locatable a-frame type building structure



Au 12, 1969 w. R Fmz 3,4 0,297

RE-LOCATABLE A-FRAME TYPE BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 18, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2.

' INVENTOR.

WILLIAM R. FRITZ OLSEN Ann STEPHENSON uronuzva RE-LOCATABLE A-FRAME TYPE BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 18, 1967 W. R. FRITZ 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 12, 1969 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM R. FRITZ OLSEN mo STEPHENSON Arman!" Au 12, mm W. R. mm 3,460,297

RE-LOCATABLE A-FRAME TYPE BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 18, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG 4] f l i INVENTOR WILLIAM R. FRITZ OLSEN m s'r zpnensou ATTORIIIYG 3,460,297 RE-LOCATABLE A-FRAME TYPE BUILDING STRUCTURE William R. Fritz, Dexter, Mich. (201 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, Mich. 48108) Filed Sept. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 668,429

Int. Cl. E04b 1/346, 7/16, 1/34 US. Cl. 52-66 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A re-locatable building structure which is foldable to a compact generally rectangular box shape for transport purposes and which is unfoldable at a desired location site to form an A-frame type building structure.

Background of the invention Re-locatable homes are conventionally of the box shape single story construction seen frequently in parks provided for this type of dwelling. Such structures offer little from the standpoint of aesthetics or imagination in room arrangement. Expandable structures of this type are also known, but when expanded, these structures are little different from the conventional type.

Summary of the invention This invention provides re-locatable building structure which folds to a compact generally rectangular box shape during transport, and is readily expanded at the location site to a two-story A-frame building structure which is aesthetically desirable. The structure includes a core frame and folding members which are movable relative to the core frame which is therefore referred to herein as fixed even though it is understood that the frame is moved during transport of the structure. The frame includes upright fixed supports and first and second floor sections arranged at the bottom and top ends of the supports. The fixed supports are spaced apart a distance somewhat less than the allowable total width of the structure during transport. Foldable first floor members are pivotally supported on the fixed supports and support a lower roof section which is usually inclined but is also movable along with the floor members to folded positions against the fixed supports during transport. Upright movable supports are mounted for up and down sliding movement on the fixed supports, and have pivotally supported thereon movable second floor members and an upper root section. When the movable supports are moved downwardly into a sideby-side relation with the fixed supports, the movable second floor members and the upper roof section are movable to folded positions adjacent the fixed supports. Thus in its finally folded position, the building structure of this invention is only slightly larger than the space occupied by the fixed supports.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved re-locatable building structure.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the building structure of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the building structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of I 3,468,297 Patented Aug. 12, 1969 vention, showing the structure in a partially folded position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the building structure of this invention showing the structure in a further folded position from the position shown in FIG. 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view of the building structure of this invention showing the structure in its finally folded position.

With reference to the drawing, the re-locatible building structure of this invention, indicated generally at 10, is illustrated in FIG. 1 in its expanded position in which it is usable as a home or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the structure 10 is of A-frame type in which an upper roof section 12, of inverted V shape, overlaps a lower roof section 14.

The building structure 10 includes a generally rectangular core frame 16 consisting of a fixed lower floor section 18, upright fixed supports 22 which extend upwardly from the floor section 18 at positions adjacent the transversely spaced outer edges 24 thereof, and a fixed upper fioor section 28 supported on the upper ends of the fixed supports 22. The upright fixed supports 22 are arranged in groups of four, as shown in FIG. 2, and the groups are arranged in transversely spaced pairs, there being four pairs of groups in the illustrated embodiment of the invention. The supports 22 are arranged in this manner so as to form supports into which upright movable supports 26 can be telescoped for a purpose to appear presently. The core frame 16 is supported on a wheeled undercarriage 20 so that it can be transported when desired.

The upper movable supports 26, which are movable between the extended positions shown in FIG. 3 in which they project upwardly from the upper ends of the fixed supports 22 and folded positions in which the movable supports 26 are telescoped downwardly into a side-byside relation with the fixed supports 22, as shown in FIG. 6, are also arranged in pairs, with the upper ends of each pair of supports 26 being connected by a transverse beam 30. Each beam 30 carries a pair of pivot members 32 which extend into slots 34 formed in bars 36 which are secured to and form a part of a pair of roof members 38 in the upper roof section 12. The roof members 38 are pivotally connected by means of a hinge 40 and have a weatherproof flexible member 42 secured to and extended between adjacent ends thereof. The roof members 38 are movable relative to the pivots 32 between the positions shown in FIG. 3 in which the roof members are relatively reversely inclined, and the positions shown in FIG. 6 in which the roof members 38 are substantially horizontal and project outwardly in a direction transversely of the frame 16 beyond the outer edges 24 of the frame floor section 18. Suitable releasable locking members (not shown) are employed to maintain the roof members 38 in the positions shown in FIG. 3 in which the pivot members 32 are at the illustrated ends of the slots 34.

A second pair of roof members 44 in the upper roof section 12 are connected to the outer ends of the roof members 38 by pivot members 46. As a result, the roof members 44 are movable on the pivots 46 between inclined positions shown in FIG. 3, in which the roof members 44 constitute extensions of the roof members 38, and upright folded positions shown in FIG. 6.

The lower ends of the movable supports 26 carry pins or the like 48 which fit in recesses or the like 50 in the upper floor section 28 in the extended positions of the movable supports 26 shown in FIG. 3. Locking assemblies 52, carried by the frame 16, engage the pins 48 so as to prevent the supports 26 from accidentally moving downwardly from their positions shown in FIG. 3. Movable second floor members 54 are mounted at their inner ends on the pins 48 and are pivotally supported at their outer ends on pins 56 carried by the upper ends of a pair of roof members 58 which constitute the lower roof section 14. Upright links 60 are also supported on the pins 56, and each link 60 is formed with an elongated slot 62 in which a pivot member 64 is slidably supported. Each pivot member 64 forms the pivotal connection between a pair of movable first floor members 66 and 68. Each floor member 66 is in turn pivotally supported at its inner end on a pin 70 carried by the frame 16, and each floor member 68 is pivotally connected at its outer end by a pin 72 to the adjacent lower roof member 58.

It can thus be seen, that when the locks 52 are released, the upright movable supports 26 are movable downwardly, as shown in FIG. 4, into a side-by-side relation with the fixed supports 22. At the same time, the movable second floor members 54 are movable downwardly at their inner ends along with the pins 48. This enables the first floor members 66 and 68 to be moved toward folded positions, about the pivots 64, and enables the roof members 58 to be folded inwardly toward the upright fixed supports 22.

The upper roof members 38 are movable toward their horizontal positions, with the pivots 3'2 sliding in the slots 34, and as the lower roof members 58, which normally support the lower ends of the upper roof members 44, as shown in FIG. 3, are moved toward the upright fixed supports 22, the upper roof members 44 are movable toward upright positions in which they extend downwardly from the pivots 46. Thus, the movable supports 26, the links 60, all of the movable floor members 54, 66 and 68, and the roof members 44 and 58 are progressively movable from their unfolded positions shown in FIG. 3 toward their folded positions shown in FIG. 6 in which they are in upright positions adjacent the fixed upright supports 22 in the core frame 16. This progressive movement is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, from which it is seen that the pivots 64 which connect the first floor members 66 and 68 slide in the slots 62 in the links 60.

Thus, the movable building structure components are movable between the positions illustrated in FIG. 3, in which they cooperate to form an A-frame structure 10, to transport positions shown in FIG. 6 in which they are folded around the core frame 16 so as to form a compact generally box shape unit in which the roof members 38 form the top, and roof members 44 form the sides. The lengths of the floor members 66 determine the vertical location of the pivots 64 which in turn determine the vertical location of the roof members 58. The position of the roof members 58 determines the location of floor members 54 which in turn determine how far down the supports 26 can move. As shown in FIG. 6, the floor members 66 are of a length to locate the supports 26 in positions such that the roof members 38 and 44 substantially enclose the frame 16 without interfering with transport of the folded unit. This unit is only slightly larger than the size of the core frame 16 and is readily transported when it is desired to move the structure 10 from one site to another.

At the desired re-location site, the unit shown in FIG. 6 is readily expanded by moving the movable supports 26 upwardly to their extended positions shown in FIG. 3. During such movement, the lower roof members 58 are also moved to their positions shown in FIG. 3 to also unfold the floor members 54, 66 and 68 and move the links 62 to their positions shown in FIG. 3. It is to be understood that the first floor members 66 and 68 are then used to support first story floor sections 74 (FIG. 2) and at least some of the floor members 54 are likewise used to support second story floor sections 7-6, as shown in FIG. 3. The floor sections 76 are pivoted up against the roof members 44 to positions between the beams therein prior to folding of the structure, and for this reason the floor sections 76 do not appear in FIGS. 4-6. Some of the floor members 28 and 54 will be left without any floor sections in order to provide an access 4 opening to the second story of the building structure 10 from the first floor 74.

Internal partitions, such as the partitions indicated at 78 in FIG. 2, can be permanently installed in the core frame 16 since the frame 16 remains in place during folding and expansion of the structure 10. This also enables the permanent installation of items such as bathroom fixtures 77 and kitchen equipment 79 on the frame 16. Other partitions, such as the one indicated at 80, and the building end walls 82 which are located to one side of the core frame 16, are pivotally mounted on the frame for folding movement against the sides of the frame, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2. Some of the other partitions and end Walls, such as the ones indicated at 84, are pivotally attached at their upper ends to the roof members so that they can be pivoted to positions against the undersides of the roof members during folding of the building structure 10 into the compact unit illustrated in FIG. 6. The lower story end walls 86 on the frame 16 can be permanently attached to the supports 22 and the second story end walls 88 can be attached to the movable supports 26 for sliding movement therewith.

From the above description, it is seen that this invention provides a two-story A-frame type building structure 10 which is readily folded into the compact unit shown in FIG. 6 for re-location purposes. Any suitable mechanism, such as a cable and pulley mechanism (not shown), can be employed for moving the movable com ponents in the structure 10 which are supported on the core frame 16 between the positions illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6.

It will be understood that the re-locatable A-frame type building structure which is herein disclosed and described is presented for purposes of explanation and illustration.

What is claimed is:

1. In a re-locatable building structure, a frame forming a lower section having upright fixed supports, foldable first fioor members supported on said supports, a lower roof section connected to said floor members, upright movable supports mounted for up and down movement relative to said fixed supports for movement to extended positions projecting upwardly from said fixed supports, an upper roof section foldably supported on said movable supports, and means responsive to upward movement of said movable supports causing said first floor members and said upper roof section to unfold away from said fixed supports.

2. A re-locatable building structure according to claim 1 further including upright links pivotally attached to said first floor members in a horizontally spaced relation with said fixed supports and means pivotally connecting said links to said lower roof section.

3. A re-locatable building structure according to claim 2 further including second floor members pivotally connected to and extending between said movable supports and said means pivotally connecting said lower roof sections and said links, and wherein said upper roof section includes a pair of pivotally mounted roof members supported at their lower ends on said lower roof section.

4. A re-locatable building structure comprising a frame having upright fixed supports, movable first floor members pivotally mounted on said frame for movement between horizontal positions and positions folded adjacent said fixed supports, a lower roof section pivotally attached to said first floor members for movement therewith to folded positions adjacent said fixed supports, upright movable supports mounted for up and down movement between extended positions projecting upwardly from said fixed supports and folded positions disposed in a side-by-side relation with said fixed supports, an upper roof section pivotally supported on the upper ends of said movable supports for movement between positions overlapping said lower roof section and folded positions disposed adjacent said fixed supports, and means responsive to upward movement of said movable supports causing said first floor members and said upper roof section to unfold away from said fixed supports.

5. A re-locatable building structure according to claim 4- wherein said frame is of a predetermined width and said fixed supports are disposed adjacent the transversely spaced outer edges of said frame 6. A relocatable building structure according to claim 5 wherein said frame includes first and second fixed floor sections located substantially at the bottom and top ends, respectively, of said fixed supports 7. A re-locatable building structure according to claim 5 wherein said upper roof section includes a first portion consisting of two pivotally connected roof members, sliding pivot means supporting said roof members intermediate the ends thereof on the upper ends of said movable supports so that said first portion is movable between a position in which said roof members are inclined downwardly and a position in which said roof members extend horizontally across the upper ends of said movable supports, said roof members in said horizontally extended positions thereof extending outwardly in a direction transversely of said building structure beyond said outer edges of said frame 8. A re-locatable building structure according to claim 7 wherein said upper roof section further includes second roof members pivotally connected to the outer ends of said first roof members and inclined downwardly therefrom in a supported relation on said lower roof section in the extended position of said movable supports.

9. A re-locatable building structure according to claim 4 further including movable second floor members pivotally connected to and extending between the lower ends of said movable supports and the upper end of said lower roof section for movement between substantially horizontal positions in the extended positions of said movable supports and upright folded positions in the folded positions of said movable supports 10. A re-locatable building structure according to claim 9 wherein said first floor members are of an articulated construction and further including upright links pivotally connected at their upper ends to said second floor members, and sliding pivot means connecting said links to said first floor members.

11. A re-locatable building structure comprising a generally rectangular core frame which includes upright fixed supports, upright movable supports mounted for up and down movement between extended positions projecting upwardly from said fixed supports and folded positions disposed in a side-by-side relation with said fixed supports, a roof section supported on said movable supports, said roof section including a first pair of roof members movable between positions in which said roof members are arranged in substantially an inverted V-shape when said movable supports are extended and substantially horizontal positions positioned above said core frame when said movable supports are moved downwardly, and second roof members pivotally attached to said first roof members and movable between inclined positions constituting downward extensions of said first roof members when said upright movable supports are extended and positions extending downwardly substantially vertically from said first roof members on opposite sides of said core frame when said upright movable supports are moved downwardly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 559,964 5/ 1896 Bierstadt 296-23.7 X 2,805,884 9/1957 Kinsman 52-69 X 2,890,907 6/1959 Briskie et a1. 52-66 X 2,920,920 1/1960 Couse et al 5268 X 3,288,521 11/1966 Patnoge 52--66 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner PRICE C. FAW, IR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

